[Isolated facial diplegia as an atypical variant of Guillain-Barre syndrome after suspected SARS-CoV-2 infection] / Diplejía facial aislada como variante atípica del síndrome de Guillain-Barré tras sospecha de infección por SARS-CoV-2.

Introduction: Since the SARS-CoV-2 pandemics began, multiple cases of Guillain-Barre syndrome secondary to COVID-19 have been described. Its typical presentation consists of the triad of paresthesia, ascending muscle weakness and areflexia, although there are several regional variants such as facial diplegia. Case presentation: Two weeks after a contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19, a 35-year-old woman presents with viral myopericarditis. Laboratory studies for autoimmune diseases come back negative, as well as multiple viral serologies. She presents anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG, with negative PCR. A week after discharge she presents with palsy of both facial nerves, without other neurological abnormalities. She undergoes examination with cranial CT without findings, and an EMG which shows bilateral alteration of facial nerves. She refuses the performance of a lumbar puncture. Discussion: Facial diplegia can occur because of several illnesses, such as meningeal or brainstem tumors, infectious agents, Guillain-Barre syndrome, autoimmune diseases, trauma, metabolic causes or congenital causes. In our patient, having discarded other etiologies with imaging and analytical studies, the most probable cause is the Guillain-Barre syndrome. It is possibly secondary to SARS-CoV-2 infection given the presence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies after contact with a confirmed case. Conclusion: This case supports the hypothesis that COVID-19 may trigger the Guillain-Barre syndrome, specifically as facial diplegia, which is an atypical variant that should be known to be early diagnosed and treated as part of this syndrome.

Introducción: Desde que se inició la pandemia por el SARS-CoV-2, se han descrito numerosos casos de síndrome de Guillain-Barré secundario a la COVID-19. Su presentación típica es la triada de parestesias, debilidad muscular ascendente y arreflexia, aunque hay diversas variantes regionales como la diplejía facial. Presentación del caso: Mujer de 35 años que, dos semanas después de un contacto estrecho con un caso confirmado de COVID-19, ingresa por miopericarditis probablemente viral, con estudio de autoinmunidad negativo, múltiples serologías virales negativas y positividad para IgG anti-SARS-CoV-2 con PCR negativa. Una semana tras el alta presenta paresia de ambos nervios faciales sin otras alteraciones neurológicas. Se realiza TAC craneal sin hallazgos y EMG que evidencia afectación bilateral de los nervios faciales. La paciente rechaza realización de punción lumbar Discusión: La diplejía facial puede ocurrir en el contexto de diversas patologías, como tumores meníngeos o troncoencefálicos, agentes infecciosos, síndrome de Guillain-Barré, patologías autoinmunes, traumatismos, causas metabólicas o causas congénitas. En el caso descrito tras descartar mediante pruebas de imagen y analíticamente el resto de etiologías, y dada la presentación clínica, permanece como causa más probable el síndrome de Guillain-Barré, posiblemente secundario a infección por SARS-CoV-2 dada la positividad de IgG anti-SARS-CoV-2 tras un contacto con un caso confirmado. Conclusión: Este caso apoya la hipótesis de que la COVID-19 puede desencadenar el síndrome de Guillain-Barré, específicamente en forma de diplejía facial, una variante atípica que se debe conocer para su identificación y manejo precoz como parte de este síndrome.

Burn-out syndrome in Spanish internists during the COVID-19 outbreak and associated factors: a cross-sectional survey.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study is to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on mental health and burn-out syndrome in Spanish internists and the factors that could be related to its appearance. DESIGN: We performed an observational, cross-sectional, descriptive study for which we designed a survey that was distributed in May 2020. SETTING: We included internists who worked in Spain during the COVID-19 outbreak. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 1015 internists responded to the survey. Of those 62.9% were women. RESULTS: Of 1015 people, 58.3% presented with high emotional exhaustion, 61.5% had a high level of depersonalisation and 67.6% reported low personal fulfilment. 40.1% presented with the 3 criteria described, and therefore burn-out syndrome.Burn-out syndrome was independently related to the management of patients with SARS-CoV-2 (HR: 2.26; 95% CI 1.15 to 4.45), the lack of availability of personal protective equipment (HR: 1.41; 95% CI 1.05 to 1.91), increased responsibility (HR: 2.13; 95% CI 1.51 to 3.01), not having received financial compensation for overtime work (HR: 0.43; 95% CI 0.31 to 0.62), not having rested after 24-hour shifts (HR: 1.61; 95% CI 1.09 to 2.38), not having had holidays in the previous 6 months (HR: 1.36; 95% CI 1.01 to 1.84), consumption of sleeping pills (HR: 1.83; 95% CI 1.28 to 2.63) and higher alcohol intake (HR: 1.95; 95% CI 1.39 to 2.73). CONCLUSIONS: During the COVID-19 outbreak, 40.1% of Internal Medicine physicians in Spain presented with burn-out syndrome, which was independently related to the assistance of patients with SARS-CoV-2, overworking without any compensation and the fear of being contagious to their relatives. Therefore, it is imperative to initiate programmes to prevent and treat burn-out in front-line physicians during the COVID-19 outbreak.

[Extrinsic collapse of the left atrium by a large hiatal hernia] / Colapso extrínseco de la aurícula izquierda por hernia hiatal gigante.

87 years old male with a history of hypertension and ischemic cardiopathy. He arrives to the Emergency department with sudden intense epigastralgia, precordial oppression with irradiation to the interscapular area, profuse sweating, associated sensation of dyspnoea and palpitations. The patient is monitored and a venous peripheral access is placed. It is remarkable the variable blood pressure measures in the semi-stationary position, both in the upper left limb as in the contralateral limb. In the upper left limb we registrered 220/80 mmHg, followed by 100/50 mmHg and finally 170/95 mmHg. In the upper right limb, blood pressure was 180/40 mmHg and afterwards 120/70 mmHg. Proximal and distal pulses are present and no pulsatile epigastric mass can be found. Given the suspicion of an aortic syndrome, a CT scan with intravenous contrast is performed which shows a large hiatal hernia compromising partially the left atrium and inferior lobar veins (Fig 1-4). The patient is transferred to the observation area, where a nasogastric tube is placed, presenting partial symptomatic improvement, with persistent nausea and vomiting, as well as a tendency to hypertension. After being evaluated by general surgery, it was decided to make an hernia content reduction to the abdominal cavity and posterior fundoplication with residual fundus (Toupet type). There were no perioperative complications. After several days of hospitalization, the patient was referred to his home with no further incidences.

Varón de 87 años, con antecedentes de hipertensión arterial y cardiopatía isquémica. Ingresa en box vital de Urgencias por epigastralgia intensa, súbita, opresión precordial con irradiación a zona interescapular, sudoración profusa, asociada a sensación de disnea y palpitaciones. Se procede a la recogida de constantes, monitorización y colocación de vía periférica. Destaca el registro de cifras tensionales variables en posición de semisedestación, tanto en el miembro superior izquierdo como en la extremidad contralateral. Se registran en miembro superior izquierdo cifras de 220/80 mmHg, posteriormente 100/50 mmHg y finalmente 170/95 mmHg. En miembro superior derecho tensión arterial de 180/40 mmHg seguida de 120/70 mmHg. Pulsos proximales y distales presentes, sin objetivarse masa pulsátil en abdomen. Ante la sospecha de un síndrome aórtico, se realiza una tomografía computarizada con contraste, que evidencia una hernia de hiato esofágico gigante por deslizamiento que condiciona colapso parcial de la aurícula izquierda y venas lobares inferiores (Fig 1-4). El paciente es trasladado a zona de observación, donde se coloca sonda nasogástrica, presentando mejoría parcial sintomática, con posterior persistencia de náuseas y vómitos, así como tendencia a la hipertensión. Tras ser valorado por cirugía general, se decide la realización de reducción del contenido herniario a cavidad abdominal y fundoplicatura posterior con fundus residual (tipo Toupet). No hubo complicaciones perioperatorias. Tras varios días de hospitalización, el paciente fue remitido a su domicilio sin más incidencias.

Síndrome sarcoidosis-linfoma / Sarcoidosis-lymphoma syndrome

No disponible